The writing journey of a seemingly uneducated woman
I have always loved writing and was encouraged to so by my teachers who always chose to read my composition assignments out loud to my classmates. I was more fervently encouraged to write when my mother who could not read very well, brought home all kinds of discarded technical books so that I could read her a ‘story’.
I made a story up every night but was found out when she wanted a particularly ‘nice’; story read over. She cautioned me about ‘lying’, and bought me an exercise book and instructed me to “Write down your stories”. I was nine years old. I have not stopped writing. My dream was to write a book one day!
After leaving primary school in 1981, I worked as a maid at a hotel, but during my free time I would listen to the news on the radio and rewrite it to make a fuller, more captivating news story which I submitted to The New Chronicle newspaper - the only newspaper on the island at the time. I was not cut out to be a maid at any hotel, nor any of the homes in which I subsequently worked as a domestic help, so I applied to the newspaper and was employed as a Junior News Reporter the same week (1982).
Being a News Reporter was a dream come true for me. It was that defining moment which changed my life! I was in my element! With just a primary school education, I was doing what I loved for a living! My front-page exposés, center-spread features and special pieces made my name Helena Durand (the name I went by then) become renown across the island of Dominica. I also became “Aunty Kate” the problem solver (though only the newspaper staff knew who Aunty Kate was).
Aunty Kate’s advice was sought on matters of family affairs, religion and relationships. The newspaper received letters from across the country and even from the region. I also had a Children’s Page on which I shared some of my short stories. These stories were eventually made a part of a book by Dr. Justice, Irvin Andre titled: ‘Distant Voices - the Genesis of Dominican literature’. A newer, fuller, more updated version of that book has since been published, and most of my books are mentioned in a review of my published works.
My Fashion Page was very popular in the newspaper too. I had professional and other interested persons model clothing, footwear and sportswear. Each ‘model’ was identified with a special name which began with the first letter of their first name – for example Tanya would be Tantalizing Tanya.
As a radical, well-known Journalist, I was invited to, and visited Taiwan in 1995 and Japan in 1997 to discuss their feud with China - their motherland. I became a recipient of a Fellowship Award. Over time, I had the honor of working with all of the newspapers on Dominica which eventually came along to compete with The New Chronicle. The Tropical Star, The Independent, The Mirror and The Freedom Voice. A few years later, I eventually became Co-Founder and one of three Directors of The Sun newspaper.
At the time when The Sun was ‘born’, The Chronicle was the king of the jungle. But that did not stop us. Having had a wonderful working relationship with The New Chronicle owner Mr. Frank Baron, (the former first Chief Minister of Dominica) I approached him about my dream of having my own newspaper. I was accompanied by one of my partners. Mr. Baron had always been impressed with my writing ability and became even more impressed with my partner’s business acumen. He loaned us the $36,000 we needed to start up. Repayment was complete in one year.
The New Chronicle and The Sun soon became business rivals as our aggressive advertising team (yours truly; we later got help so I could focus on writing the news) wreaked havoc on the marketing arena. Mr. Baron came to our office to compliment us on ‘stealing’ his clients and also to warn us that if we did not desist, he would run us off the playing field – and he almost did too. Being the millionaire that he was, he could afford slashing all his advert prices by half.
Almost everyone left us for the better deal. He was offering center-spread colour adverts for the price of our full page black and white, and full-page, full-colour adverts, for the price of our half page! It was a struggle for a while, but then my God-given writing skills saved us. Our stories were so daring, so inspiring, that everyone was reading The Sun newspaper and could not wait to see what we would publish next.
One of my front-page stories was that of a young man who had been ‘forgotten’ in prison. He had been on remand for two weeks pending trial, but because of severe backlog of court cases, his matter kept being pushed back, leaving him in prison for two years! I was contacted and before long our front page boasted a headline which read: ‘LOST IN PRISON’ accompanied by a photo of the young man staring out of prison bars (don’t ask how we got that photo… we did). His case was called that same week and he was released.
Another story which went like wild fire was when I attended a High Court case. The jurors were upset that they had been waiting ‘all day’ and were being dismissed without hearing the case only to return the following day. Someone sucked their teeth! The Judge roared: “Who said that?!!!” demanding to know who the irreverent person was, but no one stood up. The next day my front-page story read: WHO CHUPSE THERE? After that the Judge took it upon himself to single me out whenever he became impatient with someone in court. He would say: “Durand, this is not for your paper”.
A sad but memorable story was one I did of an HIV/AIDS patient. I got a tip that there was such a person at the hospital but we could not take any photos. At that time, HIV/AIDS was gaining popularity and was a serious phobia among the population! Guess what I did? I walked with our graphic artist. I explained that we would both be taking notes which allowed him to draw. Her story was painful and touching. The newspaper sold like hot bread that week when the front-page relayed her sad story. Because of the story, there were persons/groups who wanted to create a foundation to assist persons living with AIDS. They wanted The Sun newspaper to run it, but we chose not to become involved with the setting up of that foundation and no one else took up the challenge.
Seeing the unexpected response to her story; the compassion and care; the young lady decided to give us the full story accompanied by a before and after photo of herself. The difference between photos were mind-boggling!
These and many other stories made The Sun newspaper stand out, and former clients began taking out small adverts, then bigger ones, even pull-out supplements. Finally, they decided to stay with both newspapers.
Years later, a painful divorce, among other personal issues had me choosing to migrate to Montserrat with my teenaged son and daughter to work with the Montserrat Reporter in 2001. After one year, politics got in the way and since I would not allow my by-line to adorn stories which I felt were not objective, I was ‘let go because of financial constraints’. That was February 2002.
I was at my wits end. I didn’t want to return home with such a sad story. One month later, I received a call and the caller wanted to know why my name was no longer in the newspaper. I simply said that I no longer worked there. That same caller asked me to visit her office the next week and I have been working with the Government of Montserrat since. Because entrance into the Public Service demanded at least three subjects – English, Mathematics, plus one, I began taking classes. With only my primary school education I had gotten my dream job, so I had not invested in furthering my education. Suffice it to say however, within two years, I had attained more than the required subjects, and was eventually appointed. I am currently completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at the University of the West Indies Global Campus on Montserrat. Presently, at my office, among other duties, I write proposals and programmes which are always funded and executed as part of my department’s offerings to the public/community.
Among the programmes which I have created and which have been fully funded and executed by my Department are:
The M.A.N. Project: It was created to provide a medium to engage our young males –at risk- about the interpretation of masculinity. The Male Advancement Now (M.A.N.) project facilitated self-evaluation and introspection; it encouraged civic responsibility and community cohesion; and opened dialogue affecting the community which stemmed from the gender crisis identified.
The 2 nd Opportunity Education Program: The Second Opportunity Education Programme is a needed intervention in the educational system to address the slippage of youth performance in external exams. It was one of several adaptations made to address the need to maintain minimum standards for entry into employment and for access to further education.
The impact of the program has long lasting effect but also assists participants in understanding their learning styles. Its success has far reaching implications for the island and potentially identify needed changes in content delivery at the secondary school level.
The 2 nd Opportunity Education Program is used to equalize disparities in access for educational support resources, ultimately developing more critical thinking citizens.
The Stitches Program: Is a sewing project hence the name Stitches. It is combined with upcycling skills which are geared at showing our unattached youth of the various communities, how to effectively maintain and repair garments, work to change behavior and encourage them to make small changes in the way they consume. The emergence of Covid-19 halted that program.
It taught them new skills and brought together like-minded individuals who all wanted to work as a team to change the society for the better, and to make an impactful difference overall.
The Reclaim Project: (funding available but not yet executed) - The RECLAIM Project seeks to promote social justice, and support youth crime and violence prevention on Montserrat. The indicators will be significant decrease in delinquent behavior, and delinquent youth taking responsible actions in their communities and by extension the society.
The target group shall be delinquent youth in Her Majesty’s Prison and those released into the communities who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).
One of my most ambitious writing project as the Acting Youth and Community Development Officer (YCDO), was holding public, private and zoom meetings, to inform the first ever community development plan titled: ‘Montserrat Community Development Plan - 2023-2030:
A 7-year plan for Strengthening and Connecting Our Communities, and Villages’. Among the many aspects of the plan which I researched and discussed were:
- Implications of the Policy Agenda, and the Montserrat Sustainable Development Plan
- Implications of the Gender Desk
- Implications of the Disability Desk
- Implications of Enhancing our Uniformed Bodies
- Implications of an Ageing Population
- Implications of Encouraging Young Entrepreneurship
The above-titled, 40-page document has since been drafted, and submitted to my superiors.
Writing is like breathing to me. I am not yet the Full-Time Writer I want to be, nonetheless, I write all the time. So far, I have written 15 books but published 13. Being a multi-genre writer, my works are divided between books for Children (short stories and colouring books); Young Adult fiction; Romance (my favourite genre) and Fantasy. All my books are family-friendly.
My greatest writing achievement is The Fire on Montserrat Trilogy. The first novel ‘Fire on Montserrat’ came about when Montserrat celebrated 20 years of living with an active volcano in 2015. I wanted to contribute to the celebration and did it how I knew best – a story. The sequel ‘Jordan’ came about because my readers fell in love with the characters and wanted more. The third and final book of the series: ‘A Woman Like Cass’ will be out in December 2023. An excerpt from an analysis by Rich Van Press of Fire on Montserrat reads: “Fire on Montserrat” by Catherine Dorsette is a captivating Caribbean romance novel that skillfully intertwines the tumultuous backdrop of a volcanic island with a heartfelt tale of love, loyalty, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of 20 years of volcanic activity on the island, the story follows two young lovers whose lives are torn apart by the destructive forces of the Soufriere Hills Volcano.
The narrative unfolds with a poignant exploration of the characters’; struggle between loyalty to family and to each other. As the volcano belches ash and stones, the couple finds themselves separated, setting the stage for a story that spans two decades. When they reunite on the island years later, the novel delves into the complexities of rekindling a love that time and circumstances have dramatically altered. Dorsette weaves a splendidly crafted tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with riveting and suspenseful twists and turns. The author’s vivid descriptions of the volcanic landscape create a powerful backdrop that mirrors the intensity of the characters’ emotions. The juxtaposition of the natural elements and the characters’ internal struggles adds depth and richness to the narrative.
The central theme of true love striving for supremacy over hatred, vengeance, and a dark secret adds layers of complexity to the story. The characters’ faith in God is tested throughout, providing a spiritual dimension that enhances the overall depth of the novel.
One of the strengths of “Fire on Montserrat” is Dorsette’s ability to create well-rounded and relatable characters. Readers will find themselves emotionally invested in the journey of the protagonists as they navigate the challenges of love and forgiveness. “Fire on Montserrat” by Catherine Dorsette isn’t just a novel; it’s a cinematic experience waiting to happen. Dorsette’s vivid storytelling and the compelling narrative have all the makings of a blockbuster film, particularly in the hands of Hollywood’s adept filmmakers. The novel’s backdrop, the 20 years of volcanic activity on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat, is not only visually striking but also inherently dramatic. The natural elements of fire and ash mirror the emotional intensity of the characters’ journey, providing a visually stunning canvas for a filmmaker to work with. The eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano sets the stage for breath-taking visuals and heart-pounding sequences that would translate seamlessly to the big screen.
The central theme of love, loyalty, and redemption is universally appealing, making it a perfect fit for a wide audience. The characters’ struggles and the suspenseful twists and turns create a narrative that keeps viewers engaged and emotionally invested—a key ingredient for a successful film adaptation.
The potential for stunning cinematography is not the only reason “Fire on Montserrat” could be a Hollywood hit. The rich cultural backdrop of the Caribbean adds a unique flavor to the story, offering an opportunity for diverse representation and a fresh perspective in mainstream cinema.
Moreover, the story’s elements of faith, forgiveness, and the supernatural provide additional layers that would captivate audiences and set the film apart in the romance genre. Given the current trend of adapting compelling novels into successful films, “Fire on Montserrat” stands out as a prime candidate for a Hollywood adaptation.”
Award-Winning Playwright, Author, and Artist Mr. Harold A. Bascom, had this to say about Fire on Montserrat: “Catherine, it’s a fight to focus on my own work and stay away from that book of yours. Lol. Great story teller you are! Your writing is structurally sound.
I’m at a cliff-hanging point where Kyla and Derek are in Barbados… this would make a riveting LIFETIME movie.
You’re a good writer. Your writing is smooth. You handle your flashbacks expertly. Should you republish? I feel it ought to be submitted to one of the big publishers. This book can take off in Europe…or even here in the USA.
I loved the scene when Kyla was in the shower and she stepped out and saw Derek. Beautifully written! You were able to generate that sensuality with such sweet economy. You’re good!”
I am encouraged to keep writing. If I can do it, so can you. I only dreamt of writing at least one
book, but look at what has happened. Take it from me, do not ever give up on your dreams!
